USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 8
USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 8
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the ranch and its various buildings, credit for which is due entirely to Mr. Iverson, for when he purchased the property no improvements of any character whatever had been placed upon it. Now a fine modern house and suitable outbuild- ings adorn the premises, and altogether the place bears the impress of thrift and perseverance, qualities which enter largely into the make-up of the owner.
Mr. Iverson's marriage united him with Miss Sena Larsen, a resident of Chualar, and six chil- dren have been born to them. The eldest, Han- nah, is the wife of Ross Nissen, of Spreckels; Louis is assisting with the management of the home ranch, thus relieving his father of many of the cares of former years; Jessie is the wife of John D. Cochran, Jr., of Gonzales ; John is one of the deputy state veterinarians and located in Sacramento; the two younger children, Annie and Effie, are still at home with their parents. Ever since coming to Monterey county to make his home Mr. Iverson has been interested in her welfare, especially in the matter of furnishing good school advantages for the young, and ever since the establishment of the Deep Well dis- trict he has rendered valuable service as trustee. He has also served one term as supervisor of the third district of the county.
HON. BRADLEY V. SARGENT.
One of the worthy pioneer citizens of the state of California and one who had much to do with the development of Monterey county was the late B. V. Sargent of Monterey. He was born in Grafton, N. H., in 1828 and was educated in the common schools of that vicinity, but his parents were poor and at the age of ten years he started out in the world for himself and went alone to Boston, where he secured work in a bakery in which he remained for some time. The discovery of gold in this state made him anxious to try his luck and with others he started in 1849 for the new Eldorado of the west, arriving in San Fran- cisco in July. He went at once to the mines on the Mokelumne river, where he found that gold mining was a precarious business, so he at once turned his attention to other avenues and em- barked in the butcher business, also buying and
selling stock. Finding this much more profit- able he continued in that vicinity until 1857, when he came to Monterey county, which was ever after his home. In the year 1850 he op- erated a hotel in San Jose until the opening of the first State Legislature, when he sold out and made a trip to the Sandwich Islands, but re- turned the same year and met three of his broth- ers, J. P., J. L. and Roswell C., who had come across the plains from Chicago the previous year. Forming a partnership the brothers went to San Joaquin county and embarked in the stock busi- ness on a large scale, locating in the vicinity of what is now known as Woodbridge. They built up a successful business and the Sargent Broth- ers became known all over the west as stock men. They made a specialty of fine horses for a time. As they succeeded they branched out, purchasing the La Pestilencia rancho in the south- ern part of Monterey county, consisting of twelve thousand acres, and here they had fine pasturage for their stock. Another ranch purchased was the El Potrero San Carlos y San Francisquito rancho of twenty-three thousand acres, within six miles of Monterey.
Subsequently they bought property in San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Monterey and Los Angeles counties, and in the carrying on of their interests each brother assumed control of a certain part ; during the existence of the partnership they never kept any books, never had any disputes over business transactions and when any im- portant matter came before them, would meet and agree on the best move to make in the matter. At the time of the division of their interests it was decided that each should take as his portion the part that he had presided over and developed and the balance should be divided equally. The division was settled in less than an hour in the office of Judge B. V. Sargent and the only con- tention they had was that the brothers B. V. and J. P., who were the last arrivals in the state and who had had their transportation paid by the ones already located here, should pay back the passage money; this lasted about half an hour and in the end was decided by going to San Francisco and having a big dinner to commem- orate the event. (The settlement of such a large business and property interests as was conducted and held by these brothers in so short a time and
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without any friction, stands as a record in the state. )
At the time of settlement in this county there were wild animals of all kinds roaming the moun- tains and prairies and the stockmen had to pro- tect their bands from depredations. In the life histories of the hardy pioneers many thrilling anecdotes have been told of the dangers en- countered this way; however, little heed was given, for the men were all young and fearless and had decided to withstand every danger to aid in building up a commonwealth and among these none was more prominent than B. V. Sar- gent.
He was united in marriage at Mokelumne Hill in 1856 with Miss Julia Flynn, a native of Boston and a lady of education and refinement. She survives her husband, making her home in Monterey, where she is well known for her many kindnesses to those less fortunate than herself and as one of the self sacrificing pioneer women of the state. There were four children born to this worthy couple, viz : James P., Roswell C., Bradley V. and Harriet, who became the wife of M. P. Gregg.
While Mr. Sargent was engrossed with the business cares of large landed interests and stock- raising he never neglected the duties of a citizen, serving on the board of supervisors from 1885 to 1887, and gave of his time and means to pro- mote the movements that would aid in the build- ing up of the county. He served as State senator from the counties of Monterey and San Benito in 1886 and while in the legislature introduced the bill that became a law making a felony of "having sexual intercourse with a child under fourteen years of age." He was greatly inter- ested in the maintenance of good public schools and served on the board of trustees for many years. In fact, no movement for the well being of the people or the development of the state or county was ever brought to his notice without its receiving his encouragement and financial sup- port. A Democrat in his political views, he served as delegate to county and state conven- tions and aided the party in many ways by his timely suggestions and wise judgment. He was a great reader and having received but a limited education when a lad, became a well-informed man. He was a good speaker and was fond of
anecdotes of the early days; was a member of the Pioneers Society, an Odd Fellow and a Ma- son of Knights Templar degree. In manner he was unostentatious, and in disposition kindly and public spirited to a degree, for he never was known to turn a deserving person away without some substantial assistance and kindly advice. He passed away in 1895, mourned by a host of friends, for in his residence of nearly forty years in the county he not only won friends, but re- tained them and there are many today who are proud to say that "his word was as good as his bond."
LEANDER H. WILEY.
One of the great army of Argonauts who sought the golden wealth of California in the days of '49 was M. W. Wiley, who endured the hardships and trials of the six months overland journey from Ohio to this state. After his ar- rival he tried his luck in the mines of Moke- lumne Hill, but his indifferent success caused him to turn his attention to other pursuits and he went to San Joaquin county, where he engaged in farming, and during the years he made his home in that county he gained the reputation of being one of the successful men in the county. From there he went to Tulare county and fol- lowed farming for a time, but in 1870 he located in Monterey county and on his ranch near Pa- raiso Springs he lived until his death, which occurred in 1890, and his demise was the cause of general mourning in the county, for he was a man of deep impulses and pleasing personality, one who won friends wherever he was known. As a business man he was an acknowledged authority in the dairy and stock business. He was married to Eliza Jane Glass, who was a devoted wife and helpmate throughout his life. Of their children Leander H. was born June 16, 1855.
His childhood and boyhood days were replete with the experiences incident to life in a pioneer country, and he well recalls the various removals of the family by prairie schooner to Tulare and later to this country. Being the eldest son he naturally became closely associated with his father in carrying out his interests and in this way he became an authority in the business in which he was reared as well as one of the most suc-
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cessful and prosperous men in Monterey county. In 1878 he and his brother became associated together in the stock business and for many years worked to bring their business to a successful ending, which was done, for both gave their en- tire time to the work in hand. In later years they have worked together, but not as partners, for William L. resides on his ranch and L. H. lives in Salinas, retired from active duty, al- though he looks after his property interests per- . sonally. He has acquired property in Monterey and Tulare counties that in the passing of years has become valuable. For some years he has devoted his attention to the cattle business ex- clusively. When he first moved to the vicinity of Soledad the country was far from the con- dition it is found in at this time and in that vicinity he labored for many years to bring about the success he has achieved.
The land he occupied was a homestead and a pre-emption claim and to this he added from time to time until he became a large land owner. Aft- er years of active life he retired to Salinas in 1904 with his wife, Mrs. Florence Lee Davis Wiley, whom he married that year. She was born in New York state and has practically spent her entire life in California.
While Mr. Wiley has been engrossed with his own affairs it has not been to the exclusion of, the duties he owed the state and county as a citizen, and any of the enterprises that he thought would add to the county's growth and welfare of the people, he has given his support. He is a Republican in politics, though he has never sought office at the hands of the party. Frater- nally he is connected with the Foresters.
CHARLES WILLIAM HOWLAND.
Almost three hundred years have brought their remarkable transformations to our country since the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 made their hazard- ous voyage from the old world to the shores of Massachusetts and planted a feeble colony to be- gin its strenuous struggle with the sterile soil and the fierce storms of New England. Among the passengers on the historic Mayflower authen- tic mention is made of John Howland. Several men prominent in the early history of the colony
married into the family of John Howland, among these being Jonathan Bosworth, who married one of the daughters of the immigrant, also John Dickenson and John Chipman. By inter-mar- riage the descendants of Jolin Howland became connected with many prominent pioneer families of the east and their descendants are now scat- tered through the length and breadth of our coun- try. An energetic and forceful race they have left their impress upon every community to which destiny has called them and with whose progress their own has been linked. Hetty Green, one of the wealthiest women in the world, was a member of a Howland family, and upon her death $2,- 500,000 will be divided among the Howland heirs, it being left her for a life annuity only.
The origin of the Howland family is traced to Scotland and the qualities of head and heart characteristic of that nation have been inherited by their American descendants. The father of Charles William Howland bore the name of John Howland and was born in 1829 in Scotland, his parents, natives of that country but early emi- grants thence to America, having returned thither prior to the birth of their son, but shortly after that event they again became resi- dents of the new world. About the year 1858 John Howland, who was a '49er, was united in marriage with Clara E. Winn, who also was brought to California about that time, and for a long period they made their home at Sebastopol,. Sonoma county, Cal., where their son, Charles William, was born March 14, 1865. Besides this son they were the parents of two daugh- ters. The elder, Ada Lillian, became the wife of Charles Chester, and the mother of three children. The younger daughter, Ella Frances, was married to James P. Lacey, and three chil- dren blessed their union. The only son, Charles William, was united in marriage with Miss Hat- tie Nevada Atchison, by whom he became the father of three children, namely: Cecil Lester, Sibyl Louise and Lilleth. Those now living are Cecil L., nineteen years of age (1909) and Sibyl L., a popular girl of seventeen.
For twenty-five years Mr. Howland has acted as the local representative of the Singer, and Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine companies as well as other agencies, and in this work he has been signally successful, building up a trade that
& L Davis
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
extends throughout the entire community where he has acquired an enviable reputation for fair dealings in business transactions. In addition to his business interests he is the owner of the original John Howland ranch on the Sur, taken up in 1871 and since developed into a productive estate. Another important interest is the owner- ship of Idlewild, which he has leased for five years and of which he made a noteworthy success. Politically a Republican, he takes no part in politics except the casting of his ballot at elec- tions and the only office he ever consented to fill was that of school trustee, in which he gave efficient service.
GEORGE LACEY DAVIS.
The ancestry of the late George L. Davis, of Pacific Grove, may be traced to Ireland, where the family had flourished for many generations, and the first to establish the name on this conti- nent was the paternal grandfather, Thaddeus Davis. In his native country he held a posi- tion in the government service as contractor and mill inspector, and after coming to this side of the Atlantic was interested in milling affairs for some time. After locating in Canada, however, he became an officer in the government military service, and it was there that he was overtaken by death when he was still a comparatively young man. His son and namesake, Thaddeus Davis, was born in New York state in 1811, and was taken to Canada when young. He was living there at the time of the finding of gold in Cali- fornia. The prospects in the eldorado as com- pared with those which he saw before him in Canada were too alluring to be passed by, and as a consequence he was among the throng of young Argonauts who made their way to Cali- fornia during the year 1850 by way of the plains. He followed mining for about three years with fair success, and then located on a ranch in Santa Clara county and engaged in the stock business. He gave this up soon afterward, however, and purchased a small ranch at what was then known as Hilltown, but is now River- side, Monterey county. There he passed away in 1887, firm in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he was an active mem- ber. His marriage united him with Miss Nancy
Ann Hagar, who was born in Canada in 1821, descendant of English parentage, and who passed. away at the home of her son, George L., in 1900, when in her eightieth year. Longevity was a characteristic of her family, for her grandmother lived to reach the age of ninety-nine, passing away in California. Mrs. Davis had been a life-long member of the Baptist Church, in which she was an active worker. She became the mother of six children, three of whom died in childhood. Those who lived to maturity were, George L .; A. Augusta, a widow, formerly living in San Mateo county, Cal .; and H. L., all now deceased.
In Ontario, Canada, on the shores of Lake- Erie, the birth of George L. Davis occurred. April 16, 1838. He was reared in the vicinity of his Canadian home until fourteen years of age, when, in 1852, he came to California and re- mained with his parents until old enough to begin his business career. His first position here was as clerk in à store, filling this for one year, during which time he was on the lookout for a better opening. In 1858 the family came to Mon- terey county and located at Hilltown. In 1865 he formed an association with his brother H. L., in the management of a dairy business on part. of the Chemesal ranch. This association was in existence for about ten years, when George L. Davis became proprietor of a ranch of his own, having, in 1880, purchased a part of the Nacional rancho of five hundred acres in the Salinas valley. He made his home on the latter property until 1902, having in the meantime reduced his acre- age to three hundred acres. No expense had been- spared to make this one of the most up-to-date ranches in the valley, and here might be found the latest inventions in farm machinery and labor- saving devices. General ranching and stock- raising were his specialties, and it is safe to say that no one in his community met with more. notable success than did he.
In July, 1901, George L. Davis was married to Miss Ernestine Titus, a native of California and the daughter of the late Benjamin Titus. Two children blessed this marriage, George- Thomas, born June 2, 1902, and James Lee, born February 25, 1905. Ever since reaching his ma- jority Mr. Davis had been a believer in Repub- lican principles, and always voted for that party's candidates in national elections, although in local
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
matters he cast his vote for the man best suited for the office, irrespective of party name. Wher- .ever he chanced to make his home he threw him- self into the life of the community and aided in its upbuilding, and had he so desired might have held important offices within the gift of the people. However, aside from filling the appoint- ive office of postmaster in Hilltown for several years, before there was any recognized town of Salinas, he never held office of any kind. He was identified with but one fraternal organiza- tion, the Odd Fellows, having joined Alisal Lodge in 1876. The death of Mr. Davis at Pa- cific Grove, October 18, 1907, was not mourned alone by his family, but also by the many friends and co-laborers with whom he had been associated either in a business or social way during the long term of years that he made his home in Monterey county. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church. Personally he was a man of many fine traits, broad-minded and whole-hearted, and as a citizen of worth was appreciated and loved by all.
CHARLES H. BIXBY.
To be descended from the pioneers of America is to trace the lineage to the men who laid the foundations of our national prosperity and our agricultural advancement. Such descent may be claimed by Charles H. Bixby of Monterey, whose ancestors bore their share in the develop- ment of our country and were honorably asso- ciated with many movements for the good of the government. His motlier, a member of the Adams family, was a cousin of the distinguished president, John Quincy Adams, who served with distinction in the executive chair and later, by vigor of senatorial debate, won the title of "Old Man Eloquent."
During the early settlement of the eastern states the Bixby family became transplanted on American soil. Several generations lived and labored along the Atlantic coast, but with the transformation of the wilderness into fertile acres they scattered through the west. The present-day representatives made their homes in many states and are honored members of their various communities. William Bixby, who mar- ried Miss Adams, was a man of unusual com-
mercial ability and great enterprise. In the days when factories were small and their output lim- ited in sale by reason of lack of transportation facilities, he built up an important business as a manufacturer of woolen goods and gained a wide reputation throughout the east. The first factory for this purpose established in the valley of Nunda, Livingston county, N. Y., was started by him and gave employment for years to about seventy-five men and women. Charles H. Bixby has in his possession a bedspread manufactured by his father and mother in the factory more than fifty years ago, and it compares favorably with those made at the present day. Had he continued his business until later years and ben- efited by the splendid facilities for the disposal of manufactured products at high prices, un- doubtedly he would have gained great wealth, but his success was limited by reason of his era and environment.
On account of the failure of his wife's health Mr. Bixby disposed of his business, and acting on the advice of physicians he brought her west. At Lansing, Mich., he purchased teams and wag- ons for the overland journey to California, and six months from the time of starting they landed at their destination. When they began the jour- ney Mrs. Bixby had to be carried to her con- veyance, but before they had covered half of the journey she could walk from seven to ten miles a day. While at Salt Lake Mr. Bixby met Brigham Young, whom he knew in his boy- hood in the east. Mr. Young was in need of some one to set up some machinery for him, and knowing of Mr. Bixby's ability as a mechanic urged him to do the work for him, but as Mr. Bixby had no sympathy with Mormonism or its leader and fearing for the safety of his family, he declined Mr. Young's offer and resumed the journey across the plains. Reaching Placerville, Mr. Bixby first engaged in mining, later open- ing a grocery store and a hotel, and altogether he remained in northern California until 1870. It was at this time that the parents joined their son on his ranch in Monterey county, at Bixby's Landing, and there they both passed away and are buried. The father reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years, while the mother was seventy-five years of age at the time of her de- mise.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Born in Livingston county, N. Y., April 22, 1837, Charles H. Bixby received such educa- tional advantages as were possible during his boyhood and after leaving school he took up the task of making his own way in the world. He was a lad of only fifteen years when, in 1852, he set out on the overland journey for California with horse teams with Placerville as his destination. In 1859 he returned to the east for a visit, making the trip by way of the Isth- mus of Panama, and the following year he came back to California. The unrest and disturbance throughout the entire country incident to the Civil war was the cause of the enlistment of many thousands of the country's best young men, and among those who entered her service in 1863 was Charles H. Bixby, who became a mem- ber of Company G, Seventh Regiment California Volunteers. During his service he was sta- tioned in Arizona and on the frontier, and after his honorable discharge he went to Sonoma county and engaged in the stock business near Healdsburg. After remaining in that locality for a number of years he came to Monterey county in 1868 and secured large tracts of land on the coast which he improved and developed, getting out timber and tan bark, which he shipped to San Francisco from Bixby's Landing. No one was more instrumental in the opening up and development of the Sur country than Mr. Bixby, who with prophetic vision saw the pos- sibilities of the region. Alone and unaided he labored to have a postoffice established at Bixby's Landing and at his own expense hired a man for six months to carry the mail. He and his father built the wagon road from the Carmel mission to the Landing, getting no assistance whatever from the supervisors, who declared "No one would ever live in that country." Mr. Bixby assisted in organizing the first school in that locality and served as trustee for a number of years. In addition to the interests already mentioned Mr. Bixby also engaged in the stock business on a large scale. From time to time as his means permitted he added to his holdings by the purchase of land, until finally he had title to eleven hundred acres, but this property he eventually sold to the Monterey Lime Company, in 1905, since which time he has lived retired in his Monterey home.
The marriage of Charles H. Bixby occurred in 1875 and united him with Miss Martha Sam- mons, at that time a resident of the Alisal dis- trict in Monterey county. Ira Sammons, Mrs. Bixby's father, crossed the plains in 1864 from New York and for one year was located in Men- docino county. Thereafter he spent three years in Sonoma county and in 1868 he came to Mon- terey county and settled on the Alisal. There he carried on farming for nine years, thereafter re- moving to Napa county, and in the latter county his death occurred when he was eighty years of age. His wife survived him a number of years, living to reach the venerable age of eighty-five years. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sammons seven are now living, six in Monterey county and one in Washington. Two children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bixby, George O. and Alta, the latter the wife of Charles Gregg, and both children make their home in Monterey county.
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